Theft-preventing appliance



Sept. 16, 1930. w. E. AlKMAN THEFT PREVENTING APPLIANCE Filed April 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor VIM/f0; 5'. AM? on By w 5% A llorncy 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y mi W. E. AIKMAN THEFT PREVENTING APPLIAP JCE Filed April 28, 1928 Sept. 16, 1930.

W////'0/77 f. /ll/mzo/r Patented Sept. 16, 1930 il'l'ED STATES WILLIAM E. AIKMAN, OF ST. MARIES, IDAHO THEFT-PREVENTING AlPPLIANCE Application fi1ed April 28,

My present invention relates to improvements in theft preventing appliances for use in connection with automotive vehicles, and of the electrically operated type utilized in 6 connection with the ignition system of the vehicle. As herein illustrated, an audible signal, which may be the usual horn, is sounded as an alarm by the act of closing any one of a plurality or number of normally open electric switches in an unsuccessful attempt, as

by an unauthorized person, to start the motor of the vehicle, and the ignition device for controlling the supply of energy to the spark plugs is also looked in inoperative position.

.In carrying out my invention I utilize a number of similar electric switches and duplicate push buttons on a switch board that is conveniently arranged for accessby the driver of the automobile, and one of these switches and its complementary push button controls the ignition circuit of the motor in order that the authorized person or persons may with usual facility start and stop the motor or engine of the vehicle. By the use of a number of similar or duplicate switches, an unauthorized person, or one unfamiliar with the identity of the ignition switch, has for instance, one chance in thirty of touching the correct button to turn the current of the ignition circuit, and the changes are thirty to one thathe will sound the alarm and lock the ignition control device, thus thwarting an attempted theft of the vehicle.

After the ignition switch has been locked,

due to an unsuccessful attempt to close it, the open, locked switch canbe unlocked only by the use of a key giving access to the interior of a box or casing containing electromagnetic control devices, andlocated in a hidden or obscure part of the vehicle.

in the embodiment of my invention a no mally open, low tension, actuating circuit including the usual battery, is provided, together with electro-magnetic control devices for closing th open low tension ignition. circuit to the primary coil, and after the latter has been closed, the actuating circuit is automatically cut out, and the usual high tension circuit is maintained from the generator for the electrical systems of the vehicle, in-

1928. Serial No. 273,567.

eluding of course the ignition system, for the motor.

A plurality of similar low tension signal circuits are also used together with normally open switches and electro-magnetic control devices, and upon the closing of one of the signal switches, the alarm is sounded and the lectro-magnetic devices are energized for the purpose of locking the ignition control devices with the ignition circuit open.

A mechanical lock is electrically actuated for holding open the ignition circuit after an unsuccessful attempt to start the motor and this look is enclosed within a box or cabinet, the door of which may be opened only by the use of a key to give access to the lock.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed. In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to the best mode I have thus far dovised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the locked box or cabinetcontaining the electro-magneti control devices and the mechanical lock, parts being broken away for convenience of ill .stration. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the switch board located at a place easy of access to the driver of an automobile. Figre 3 is a sectional view of the switch board, as at line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4L is an enlarged sectional detail view showing the lower panel of the switch board and one of the normally open switches.

Figure 5 is a sectional detail view of part of the switchboard showing the stop switch,

normally closed, that is opened to break the ignition circuit and stop the motor.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the lower panel of the switch board.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the electromagnetic devices, together with the wiring for the low tension actuating circuit, the ignition circuit and the signal circuits.

Figure 8 is a sectional view of the electromagnetic control devices with the lock in position to prevent closing of the open ignition circuit. p

The switch board, including its panels 1 and 2, is of suitable sizeancl shape-to accommodate a comparatively large number of switches, and is located in a place where 1t 1s readily'accessible to the driver ofan auto mobile, as on the instrument board of the vehicle. The switchboard is equippedwith a number of depressible buttons of which the button 3 may control the ignition circuit and the remaining buttons 4 will control the sig.-

nal circuits and the lock device for the ignition Cllflllli}. same appearance; and only a person familiar with the-correct location of the button 3 will be enabled to turn on the ignition, as the depresslng of any-button but 3 Wlll sound the alarmland lock the ignition system. The buttons controlnormally openswitches each of which-includes thefstem 5 of the button and a conductororswitch plateb which is secured at one end to. theterminal screw or post? and adapted tofbepressed into contact at its free end-with another terminal post 8, the

twopost-sfor terminals being supported in the, lowerpanel 2: of the switchboard. Theresilient plate 6 is normally held out of conmarrrom the terminal 8 vby means eta plunger- 9 and its spring 10 supported in panel 2 and a bus wire 8 connects these normallyopen switches as indicated in Figure 6.

In Figure 5 a similarly constructed switch is illustrated, for the stop switch' by means flofwhich the motor is stopped, and this switch comprises'a-buttonf1l and posts 12' and 13 supportedin the switch panel '1, the button beingd'epressible against-the resilient blade 14 secured at one end to the, terminal 13.

These switehfj-inen bers are normally held in closed contact'by means-of the plunger-15 and its spring 6 supportedinthje panel 2 or the switchboard.

A low tension operating circuit is con trolled by the ignition button 3, which. circuit includes the battery 17 from which the wire 18 leads to the ammeter A, and thence the wire 19 leads tothe normally open switch members l2 '13 and to the'branch or bus wire" 8 as seen in Figure From the stop switch niember's121'13 a wire20'is extended to the contact plate-21, and from the ignition switch wire '22 is extended to a resilient conductor'plate 23 thatnormally rests upon the conductor block 24," and this block is connected by wire 25jtothe intermediate electro-' 'magnet '26,the magnet being grounded by means of Wire=27 extended'therefrom. The

magnet 26 is provided with'a' core 28 which is'p'ivoted at one end of an insulated rockarm 29 and this rock arm at its free end is provided with a contact member 30 for coaction with the 'contact plate- 21 to iorm' a single poleswitchi 'Thewire 31 is connected 'iZO' thG contact'm'ember 3 0 and thenceleads All of the buttons have the I to the primary of the spark coil-indicated at it 32 and grounded in usual manner. 'lhe switch 30-21 opens and closes the primary circuit of the spark coil. 7 p

;To start the car through the motor, the

ignition circuit is of course first closed, and

this is accomplished through the closing of r the flow tension starting circuit by pressing :the starting button 3 to close its switch 7-8,

and when this is done, the current flows from thebat'tery 17 throughwire 18,, am neter A. and wire 19 to and through the normally f closed stop switch 12 13, and thence by wire 2Q tothe stationary contact plate 21 of the V I ignition switch 21--30,' which is as yet open.

The current also flows through'bus wire 8 r to the closed-starting"- switch 78, thence by vwire 22 to the resilient conductor plate 23 ing the ignition switch 21 30,to start the motor.

The generator G is grounded as at 33 to 3 complete the circuitto the primary-winding.

A normally closed cut-outswitch34 is located in the low tension circuit, and this switch is opened when the voltage from the generator G becomes greater than-that of the low tensioncircuit from the battery, and the current from the battery is thus replacedby the ourrent fromthe generator. I 7

"Bymeans of w re from thegenerator a holding electronagnet 36 is'energized to influence its core-37 that is pivoted'at- 38 to the "rock 'arm- 29. -As the rock arm' 29' swings to close the ignition circuit 21'30 the f core 3'? vis depressedagainst.a: stepp'lug or I screw 37 and the core 37 is retained in this position whenthe magnet 36 is energized from the -g','enerator the current flowing through the magnet and thence by wire 39.1;o-the ground at 27 v After the motor :hasfstarted, pressure is released from the. startingbutton 3 and the starting switch 7-8 opened to break-the low tension current and; the ignition switch 21'-30 is held closed by the energized hold- 7 ing. magnet 35. I a a To stop the motor, the normally closed stopping sw1tch'12 13 is opened by depress;

between the enerator G andthe ignition 3 7 Q 1-20 ing the button 11, for breaking thecircuit switch 2l30, and the cut out's'witch Baagain closes.

In addition to the starting magnetIQ-S and the holoing magnet 36. 'a third magnet 40 for loclcing the ignit on circuit, is enclosed between the two insulated plates 41 andj42 within the'cabinet or box 4:3 that is. located at; suitable place in the automob le. f'ihebox' is conductor plate 23 and which normally rests upon the block 24 to form the electrical locking switch member. The lock is a conductor which rests on the insulating strip.

The lock 45 is of angular shape and under normal conditions is designed to rest upon the insulated board 41 in the position indicated in Figure 7 with the electric locking switch 2324 closed. The resilient blade 23 is adapted to be lifted from electrical con tact with the block 24 by action of the core orplunger 47 within the magnet 40, and as the height of the lock 45 is greater than the height of the block 24, when the blade 23 and its hinged lock device 45 are lifted by the plunger, the lock swings by gravity to the position of Figure 8 where it is holding the blade out of contact from the block 24 and the locking switch is open, thus breaking the low tension ignition circuit.

lVith the locking switch 234-24 held open, the ignition circuit cannot be closed, and therefore the motor of the automobile cannot be operated.

Should the wrong button be depressed, and switch members as 4849 in Figure 7 be thus closed, current from the battery will flow through wire 18, ammeter A and wire 19 to the bus wire 8, thence to switch 48-49 and by wire to the magnet 40, the locking magnet or signal magnet, and the current also flows by wire 51 to the horn 52 which is grounded at 53. From the signal magnet 40 the low tension current passes through wire 54 and through wire 27 to the ground, thus completing the signal circuit and locking the locking mechanism. The audible signal is sounded as an alarm, and the open ignition circuit is locked in this condition.

When the signal magnet 40 is energized, its plunger or core 47 is lifted from its position in Figure 7 to that of Figure 8, and its I upper end strikes the blade 23, lifting it from the contact block 24 to open the signal circuit switch or locking switch. As the blade is lifted the angular lock 45 swings by gravity from its position in Figure 7 to its position in Figure 8 where it rests flatly 'upon the insulating plate 41, and holds the blade out of contact from block 24, thus mechanically locking and holding open the ignition circuit.

The starting magnet 26 is thus cut oti from any current, and as the leverage of arm 29 to core 28 is longer or greater than its leverage to core 37 of holding magnet 36, and as the weight of cores 28 and 37 is the same, it will be apparent that core 28 acts as a weight to hold the movable contact 30 of the ignition switch cpenfrom plate 21.

No attempt has been made in the drawings to show a complete ignition system for the motor of an automobile, as the invention contemplates the introduction of my device into the low tension or primary line that supplies the current to the ignition system.

The electro-magnetically operated switch mechanism may be, and is used, without atfecting the standard ignition systems, by removing the wires from the usual switch on the automobile and attaching them to the switch 3012.

lVhen the engine or motor is stopped, the voltage of the generator G falls to zero and consequently coil 36 is de-energized, its core 37 is released from stop core 37, and the weight of thecore 28 causes core 37 to rise, and open the switch 3021. Cores 37 and 28 are of the same size and weight, but they are pivoted on the rock arm 29 in such manner that in the absence of magnetic attraction between core 37 and stop core 37, core 28 will fall and core 37 will rise, to open switch 30-21.

lVhen button 3 in Figure 2 is depressed, contacts 7 and 8 are electrically connected, and the path of the current flows from battery 17 through wire 18 and ammeter A to wire 19, and thence through wire 8 along the row of contacts to the terminal 7. With the contacts 7 and 8 connected, the path of the electric current is then through 7 and 8 to wire 22 in Figure 7, thence through plate 23 and block 24 and post 24 of the, protected relay switch to wire 25. lVire 25 is connected to the binding post of magnet 26, and the current passes around the magnet windings to ground 27 andback to the negative side of the battery.

Magnet 26 is an electro-magnet of the solenoid type, and when current flows through its windings, the energized magnet pulls core 28 upwardly until the core is approximately centered in the windings. The rising movement of core 28 causes descent of core 37, and closes the switch 3021.

The lowering of core 37 is stopped by the adjustable plug or core-stop 37 and the latter may be adjusted by its screw threads to insure proper movementof the core 37.

After the switch 3021 is closed, the path of the electric current from the primary winding of the ignition coil is from the positive pole of battery 17, through wire 18, ammeter A and wire 19 to contact points 12 and 13, thence by wire 20 through the switch 2130 and wire 31 to the primary spark coil 32, thence through the primary winding and interrupter to the ground and back to the negative pole of the battery 17, supplying current to the primary of the spark coil or induction coil. Since the secondary circuit of the ignition system has not beenaltered, the motor is ready to be started, and the starting oi the motor is accomplished in usual manner.

holdsswitch -21 closed. The switchis thus closed whilethe generator is running and of course the generator runs while the motor is operating. 7

Thepathofthe current through: magnet is" fromthe positive brush, of the generator G i ure 7 ,is connectedto the system betweenthe through wire to the binding poston magnet 36 and through this magnet and wire 39 tothe ground wire 27 andnegative brush'oi thegenerator. a

Wire 35 of the magnet36, as seen in Fig generator brushandthe reverse current relay, or,cut'out 34. This relay or cut out is standardequipment on modern automobiles,

and is provided to disconnect the battery and generator at low car speeds, or when the voltage of the generatoris less than that of the battery,

7 Should an attempt be made to start the engine by depressing'any button, other than 3,

current will flow from the positive pole of battery 17, through wire 18 to the ammeter A, wire 19. to bus wire v 8 and along the row of contact to the points E and F (assuming theseto be the pointsthat are contacted by "depressing the-wrong'button). From point Ethe current passes through wire and:

wire 51 to the magnet or protective relay 40, out through wire 54 to the ground wire 27.

-At this time current also flows through wire 51 to the horn 52-,which is grounded at 53, and the horn issounded. v r

As the current flows through the windings of magnet40,the'core 47 is lifted with con: siderable force, and the stem at the top of the core strikes the resilient plate 23, rais ing the latter and permitting the lock hook 45 to swing to the right as in Figure 8. By the j pivoted 1001145 the circuit is held open, and

it is impossible, to close the switch 30I21 without opening thedoor-44 to gain access to the interior of the box 43.

To reset thefmechanismthe door 44must. be unlocked and open to gain access to the lock 45 for restoring the lock-to its normal POSitiOI in'Fi gure 7." Y, r 7 I 1.- In F'gure 6 it will be observed that the panel 2 hassix rows of contacts fori'the switches, while panel 1; shows three 'comple mentary rows of depressible switch: buttons,

and the rows of contacts on panel2 are wired parallel withone'another by the bus ,wire 8.

Thus when starting-button 3;is depressed,

the starting switch 78 of Figure? is closed and the switch is included'in the low tension starting circuit forv starting'magnetQG, but

; when an incorrect orjwrong button 4 is depressed, the signal switch 48+49is included in the locking circuit to energizethe locking magnet 40 with the resultsabove set forth. Various changes and alterations may be made in the exemplification shown inrthe drawings, and such changes, within the scope of my claimsmay be made without departing from the principles of myinvention. For instance, if desired, the electrical wiring for the headlights of the vehicle may beincluded in a circuit or circuits so thatethevlights may 1 be aiiected by the actuation of the-signal and a f I lock circuits. I I v Having thus fully described my inventlon,

'what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is f 1. In a theft preventing apparatuathe- V combination with an ignition circuit and its open switch, a starting circuit and switch and'astarting electro-magnet inthe circuit for closing the ignition switch, of a low ten;

sion locking circuit and its closed switch'and electro-magnetically controlled means for opening said switch, and a'inechanical lockj I device for holding said switchopeni 2.111 a theftpreventing apparatusthe combination with an ignition circuit and its open switch, of a startingswitchand its. 7 i

circuit and an electro-magnet for closing the open ignition switch, a normally closed locking switch in thestarting circuit and an electro-niagnet for opening said switch, and mechanical meansforg-locking the 'last-mentioned switch in open position; I;

, 3. In 1 theft, preventing apparatus, the

open switch, ofa" starting circuit anda single switchltherefor, a closed locking ,switch in i said circuit, a lockingcircuit and a 'plurality of locking switchesin said circuit,an electrofimagnet in the'locking circuit for opening the normallyclosedlocking switch, and me I ohanical means' forholding open the open locking switch.

4. In a theftnpreventing apparatus it the combination with an ignition circuit an'd -its open switch, of a starting" circuit. audits in i switch and an electr c-magnet in said circuit f for closingthe ignition switch, an ielectroe magnet and connections ior holding -said sw tch 1n closed position a normallyjclosed' locking sw tch 1n the ignitioncircuityandf electro-magnetic mechanism' inthe locking ing switch r 5. In a theft. preventing apparatuagthe circuit for opening said normally clo'sedlock- I i i 7 combination with anignition circuit having an open switch and a normally closed locking switch, of a starting 'circuit' 'and its switch and anelectro-magnet in said-circuit for closg ing the ignition switch, an'electro-magnet and connections for holding said switch; in closed positioman electro magnet for open-r mg the lock ng switchand a low-tension cir cuit having a battery therein for energizing v a s 100 i. combination w1th;an -ignit1on circuit and its I 

